Indians' Perez has shoulder tendinitis

CLEVELAND (AP) — Indians All-Star closer Chris Perez will not throw for a week after an MRI revealed tendinitis in his right shoulder.

Winslow Townson

Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Chris Perez, right, walks with a trainer after leaving the baseball game with an injury and two outs during the ninth inning of Cleveland's 6-5 loss to the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston, Sunday, May 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Chris Perez, right, walks with a trainer after leaving the baseball game with an injury and two outs during the ninth inning of Cleveland's 6-5 loss to the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston, Sunday, May 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

FILE - In this May 26, 2013 file photo, Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Chris Perez reacts after giving up a hit to Boston Red Sox's Stephen Drew during the ninth inning of Boston's 6-5 win in a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston. Drug agents are investigating a narcotics delivery to the home of Indians closer Perez. Rocky River Police Chief Kelly Stillman said city officers in the Cleveland suburb, a regional narcotics unit and postal inspectors were involved in Tuesday's, June 4, 2013 operation investigating a delivery to the Perez home. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson, File)

Perez was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday before the Indians opened a two-game series in Cincinnati. He underwent tests in Cleveland, which showed "mild" tendinitis of his rotator cuff. The Indians said their plan is for Perez not to pick up a baseball for at least five days in the hopes that rest will reduce the soreness in his shoulder.

The test results are encouraging for the Indians, who feared they might be without the two-time AL All-Star for a longer period.

Perez last pitched on Sunday in the ninth inning of a 6-5 loss to Boston. The right-hander was in the process of blowing a three-run lead when he felt a "pinch" in his shoulder and had to leave the game.

Perez missed almost a month during training camp in Arizona with soreness in his shoulder and it has lingered throughout the early part of the regular season. He felt discomfort on May 12 while warming up in Detroit and was not brought in for a save situation.

Perez will likely make a few rehabilitation appearances in the minors before he's activated by the Indians. He's eligible to come off the DL June 11.

While Perez is sidelined, Vinnie Pestano has taken over closing duties for the scuffling Indians, who have lost four straight and six of seven entering Tuesday's game against the Reds. Joe Smith will slide into Pestano's setup role.

Perez is 2-1 with a 4.32 ERA and six saves in eight chances in 17 outings. In his last three games, Perez has allowed seven runs and five hits with five walks.

However, it's not just his pitching that has been an issue for the colorful reliever. He recently deactivated his Twitter account after two rough outings because of negative comments he received from some followers.

Perez issued a statement through the team last week saying he intended to focus on his performance and did not want to be a distraction to his teammates.